Indoor Thermal Comfort Analysis: A Case Study of Modern and Traditional Buildings in Hot-Arid Climatic Region of Ethiopia
Indoor thermal comfort is an essential aspect of sustainable architecture and it is critical in maintaining a safe indoor environment. Expectations, acceptability, and preferences of traditional and modern buildings are different in terms of thermal comfort. This study, therefore, attempts to evalua...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Urban Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/5/3/53 |
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| author | Haven Hailu Eshetu Gelan Yared Girma |
| author_facet | Haven Hailu Eshetu Gelan Yared Girma |
| author_sort | Haven Hailu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Indoor thermal comfort is an essential aspect of sustainable architecture and it is critical in maintaining a safe indoor environment. Expectations, acceptability, and preferences of traditional and modern buildings are different in terms of thermal comfort. This study, therefore, attempts to evaluate the indoor thermal comforts of modern and traditional buildings and identify the contributing factors that impede or facilitate indoor thermal comfort in Semera city, Ethiopia. This study employed subjective and objective measurements. The subjective measurement is based on the ASHRAE seven-point thermal sensation scale. An adaptive comfort model was employed according to the ASHRAE standard to evaluate indoor thermal comfort. The results revealed that with regards to thermal sensational votes between −1 and +1, 88% of the respondents are satisfied with the indoor environment in traditional houses, while in modern houses this figure is 22%. Likewise, 83% of occupants in traditional houses expressed a preference for their homes to remain the same or be only slightly cooler or warmer. Traditional houses were, on average, in compliance with the 80% acceptability band of the adaptive comfort standard. The study investigated that traditional building techniques and materials, in combination with consideration of microclimate, were found to play a significant role in regulating the indoor environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:09:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-504f09fd7c994f798c8424e277a5748c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2413-8851 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:09:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Urban Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-504f09fd7c994f798c8424e277a5748c2023-11-22T15:33:19ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512021-07-01535310.3390/urbansci5030053Indoor Thermal Comfort Analysis: A Case Study of Modern and Traditional Buildings in Hot-Arid Climatic Region of EthiopiaHaven Hailu0Eshetu Gelan1Yared Girma2Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and Construction Technology and Management, Dilla University, Dilla 419, EthiopiaDepartment of Architecture, School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU), Adama 1888, EthiopiaDepartment of Architecture, School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU), Adama 1888, EthiopiaIndoor thermal comfort is an essential aspect of sustainable architecture and it is critical in maintaining a safe indoor environment. Expectations, acceptability, and preferences of traditional and modern buildings are different in terms of thermal comfort. This study, therefore, attempts to evaluate the indoor thermal comforts of modern and traditional buildings and identify the contributing factors that impede or facilitate indoor thermal comfort in Semera city, Ethiopia. This study employed subjective and objective measurements. The subjective measurement is based on the ASHRAE seven-point thermal sensation scale. An adaptive comfort model was employed according to the ASHRAE standard to evaluate indoor thermal comfort. The results revealed that with regards to thermal sensational votes between −1 and +1, 88% of the respondents are satisfied with the indoor environment in traditional houses, while in modern houses this figure is 22%. Likewise, 83% of occupants in traditional houses expressed a preference for their homes to remain the same or be only slightly cooler or warmer. Traditional houses were, on average, in compliance with the 80% acceptability band of the adaptive comfort standard. The study investigated that traditional building techniques and materials, in combination with consideration of microclimate, were found to play a significant role in regulating the indoor environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/5/3/53bioclimaticthermal comfortvernacular housecondominium housesSemera |
| spellingShingle | Haven Hailu Eshetu Gelan Yared Girma Indoor Thermal Comfort Analysis: A Case Study of Modern and Traditional Buildings in Hot-Arid Climatic Region of Ethiopia Urban Science bioclimatic thermal comfort vernacular house condominium houses Semera |
| title | Indoor Thermal Comfort Analysis: A Case Study of Modern and Traditional Buildings in Hot-Arid Climatic Region of Ethiopia |
| title_full | Indoor Thermal Comfort Analysis: A Case Study of Modern and Traditional Buildings in Hot-Arid Climatic Region of Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Indoor Thermal Comfort Analysis: A Case Study of Modern and Traditional Buildings in Hot-Arid Climatic Region of Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Indoor Thermal Comfort Analysis: A Case Study of Modern and Traditional Buildings in Hot-Arid Climatic Region of Ethiopia |
| title_short | Indoor Thermal Comfort Analysis: A Case Study of Modern and Traditional Buildings in Hot-Arid Climatic Region of Ethiopia |
| title_sort | indoor thermal comfort analysis a case study of modern and traditional buildings in hot arid climatic region of ethiopia |
| topic | bioclimatic thermal comfort vernacular house condominium houses Semera |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/5/3/53 |
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